Every year on March 21, the world celebrates the International Day of Forests or World Forest Day. The theme for 2024 is “Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World.” The motto draws attention to how modern technologies enrich our ability to conserve and use forests.
The initiator of the establishment of this ecological holiday in 1971 was the European Confederation of Agriculture at the XXIII UN General Assembly, the idea was supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Initially, it was decided to celebrate this day on the day of the autumn equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. However, in 2012, the UN General Assembly, by its resolution No. 67/200 of December 21, 2012, approved “to celebrate annually on 21 March the International Day of Forests, as an occasion to inform society about the importance of preserving forests and to raise awareness of their significance.”
Forests are one of the most significant natural resources of Belarus, the pride of our country and a valuable resource. All forests in the republic are exclusively state property.
Belarus is among the top ten leading forest states in Europe according to a number of key indicators characterizing the forest fund. Forests occupy 40.1% of the republic’s territory.
The Gomel region is the most forested in the country, while the most forested area is in the Vitebsk region – Rossonsky.
The most common tree species in the republic are pine and birch. And the average tree age is 57 years.
There are about 9 thousand square meters of forested land per capita in Belarus.
All cut down plantations are restored in the country. Thus, the republic ensures the sustainability of forest management.
The area of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) in the forest fund of Belarus is about 1.6 million hectares.
Not only our health, but also the existence of all life on Earth depends on the state of forests. Therefore, preserving this green wealth is one of the key goals of the current and all future generations of humanity.
